List of United States Senators from Delaware

Last updated

Current delegation

Below is a chronological listing of the United States Senators from Delaware. U.S. Senators were originally elected by the Delaware General Assembly for designated six-year terms beginning March 4. Frequently portions of the term would remain only upon a U.S. Senator's death or resignation. From 1914 and the enforcement of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1913, officeholders were popularly elected on the first Tuesday after November 1; starting 1935, the beginning of their term is January 3. Delaware's current U.S. Senators are Democrats Tom Carper (serving since 2001) and Chris Coons (serving since 2010).

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress which, along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C.

Delaware State of the United States of America

Delaware is one of the 50 states of the United States, in the South-Atlantic or Southern region. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, north by Pennsylvania, and east by New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor.

Delaware General Assembly

The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 representatives. It meets at Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware, convening on the second Tuesday of January of odd-numbered years, with a second session of the same Assembly convening likewise in even-numbered years. Normally the sessions are required to adjourn by the last day of June of the same calendar year. However the Governor can call a special session of the legislature at any time.

Contents

List of senators

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for only one Congress in the first elections of 1788, and the seat was contested again for the 2nd, 5th, and every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election will be in 2024.

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Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for the first two United States Congresses in the first elections of 1788, and the seat was next contested again for the 3rd, 6th, and every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 2002, 2008, and 2014, with a special election in 2010. The next election will be in 2020.

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1 GeorgeRead.gif
George Read
Pro-
Admin.
March 4, 1789 –
September 18, 1793
Elected in 1788.1 1st 1 Elected in 1788.March 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1793
Anti-
Admin.
Richard bassett.jpg
Richard Bassett
1
Re-elected October 23, 1790.

Resigned to become Chief Justice of Delaware.
2 2nd Pro-
Admin.
3rd 2 Elected in 1793.

Resigned.
March 4, 1793 –
January 19, 1798
Pro-Admin. ViningJohnM 0001.jpg
John M. Vining
2
VacantSeptember 18, 1793 –
February 7, 1795
 
2 Henry Latimer US.gif
Henry Latimer
Pro-
Admin.
February 7, 1795 –
February 28, 1801
Elected in 1795 to finish Read's term.
Federalist 4th
Re-elected January 6, 1797.

Resigned.
3 5th
Elected in 1798 to finish Vining's term.

Died.
January 19, 1798 –
August 11, 1798
Federalist JoshuaClayton.gif
Joshua Clayton
3
 August 11, 1798 –
January 17, 1799
Vacant
Elected in 1799 to finish Clayton's term.January 17, 1799 –
November 6, 1804
Federalist William H. Wells.jpg
William H. Wells
4
6th 3 Re-elected in 1799.

Resigned.
3 Samuel White US.jpg
Samuel White
Federalist February 28, 1801 –
November 4, 1809
Appointed to finish Latimer's term.
7th
Re-elected January 11, 1803. [1] 4 8th
 November 6, 1804 –
November 13, 1804
Vacant
Elected in 1804 to finish Wells's term.November 13, 1804 –
March 3, 1813
Federalist BayardJames ASr.jpg
James A. Bayard
5
9th 4 Re-elected in 1805.
10th
Re-elected January 11, 1809. [2]

Died.

5 11th
VacantNovember 4, 1809 –
January 12, 1810
 
4 Outerbridge Horsey Federalist January 12, 1810 –
March 3, 1821
Elected in 1810 to finish White's term.
12th 5 Re-elected in 1811.

Resigned.
13th  March 3, 1813 –
May 21, 1813
Vacant
Elected in 1813 to finish Bayard's term.

Retired.
May 21, 1813 –
March 3, 1817
Federalist William H. Wells.jpg
William H. Wells
6
Re-elected January 13, 1815. [3]

Retired.
6 14th
15th 6 Elected in 1817.

Legislature failed to elect.
March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1823
Federalist Vandykenjr.jpg
Nicholas Van Dyke
7
16th
VacantMarch 4, 1821 –
January 23, 1822
 7 17th
5 Rodneycaesara3.jpg
Caesar A. Rodney
Democratic-
Republican
January 24, 1822 –
January 29, 1823
Elected late to finish vacant term.

Resigned to become U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Provinces of the River Plate.
VacantJanuary 29, 1823 –
January 8, 1824
 
18th 7 March 4, 1823 –
January 7, 1824
Vacant
Re-elected late.

Died.
January 7, 1824 –
May 21, 1826
Adams-Clay Federalist Vandykenjr.jpg
Nicholas Van Dyke
6 Thomas Clayton US.jpg
Thomas Clayton
Adams-Clay Federalist January 8, 1824 –
March 3, 1827
Elected in 1824 to finish Rodney's term.
Anti-Jacksonian 19th Anti-
Jacksonian
 May 21, 1826 –
November 8, 1826
Vacant
Appointed to continue Van Dyke's term.

Retired.
November 8, 1826 –
January 12, 1827
Anti-
Jacksonian
Daniel Rodney.jpg
Daniel Rodney
8
Elected in 1827 to finish Van Dyke's term.

Retired.
January 12, 1827 –
March 3, 1829
Jacksonian Ridgelyhm.jpg
Henry M. Ridgely
9
7 LMcLane.jpg
Louis McLane
Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
April 16, 1829
Elected in 1827.

Resigned to become U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to England.
8 20th
21st 8 Elected in 1829.March 4, 1829 –
December 29, 1836
Anti-Jacksonian JMiddletonClayton-SecofState.jpg
John M. Clayton
10
VacantApril 16, 1829 –
January 7, 1830
 
8 Arnold Naudain.jpg
Arnold S. Naudain
Anti-Jacksonian January 7, 1830 –
June 16, 1836
Elected in 1830 to finish McLane's term.
22nd
Re-elected in 1832.

Resigned.
9 23rd
24th 9 Re-elected in 1835.

Resigned.
9 Richard H Bayard US.jpg
Richard H. Bayard
Anti-Jacksonian June 17, 1836 –
September 19, 1839
Elected in 1836 to finish Naudain's term.
 December 29, 1836 –
January 9, 1837
Vacant
Elected in 1837 to finish his cousin's term.January 9, 1837 –
March 3, 1847
Anti-Jacksonian Thomas Clayton US.jpg
Thomas Clayton
11
Whig 25th Whig
Re-elected during the 1838/39 cycle.

Resigned to become Chief Justice of Delaware.
10 26th
VacantSeptember 19, 1839 –
January 11, 1841
 
Richard H Bayard US.jpg
Richard H. Bayard
Whig January 12, 1841 –
March 3, 1845
Elected in 1841 to finish his own term.

Retired.
27th 10 Re-elected in 1841.
28th
10 JMiddletonClayton-SecofState.jpg
John M. Clayton
Whig March 4, 1845 –
February 23, 1849
Elected in 1845.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
11 29th
30th 11Elected in 1846 or 1847.

Retired.
March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1853
Whig SpruancePresley.jpg
Presley Spruance
12
11 Senator John Wales.jpg
John Wales
Whig February 23, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
Elected in 1849 to finish Clayton's term.

Lost re-election.
31st
12 James A. Bayard, Jr. - Brady-Handy.jpg
James A. Bayard Jr.
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
January 29, 1864
Elected in 1851.12 32nd
33rd 12 Elected in 1853.

Died.
March 4, 1853 –
November 9, 1856
Whig JMiddletonClayton-SecofState.jpg
John M. Clayton
13
34th
 November 9, 1856 –
November 19, 1856
Vacant
Appointed to continue Clayton's term.

Declined nomination to finish Clayton's term.
November 19, 1856 –
January 14, 1857
Whig ComegysJosephP.jpg
Joseph P. Comegys
14
Elected in 1857 to finish Clayton's term.

Lost re-election.
January 14, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
Democratic BatesMartinW.jpg
Martin W. Bates
15
Re-elected in 1857.13 35th
36th 13 Elected in 1858.March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1871
Democratic Willard Saulsbury, Sr. - Brady-Handy.jpg
Willard Saulsbury, Sr.
16
37th
Re-elected in 1863.

Resigned.
14 38th
13 George R. Riddle - Brady-Handy.jpg
George R. Riddle
Democratic January 29, 1864 –
March 29, 1867
Elected in 1864 to finish Bayard's term.

Died.
39th 14 Re-elected in 1864.

Lost re-election.
40th
VacantMarch 29, 1867 –
April 5, 1867
 
14 James A. Bayard, Jr. - Brady-Handy.jpg
James A. Bayard Jr.
Democratic April 5, 1867 –
March 3, 1869
Appointed to continue Riddle's term.

Elected January 19, 1869 to finish Riddle's term. [4]

Retired.
15 Thomas F. Bayard, Brady-Handy photo portrait, circa 1870-1880.jpg
Thomas F. Bayard
Democratic March 4, 1869 –
March 6, 1885
Elected in 1869.15 41st
42nd 15 Elected in 1870.March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1889
Democratic Eli M. Saulsbury - Brady-Handy.jpg
Eli M. Saulsbury
17
43rd
Re-elected in 1875.16 44th
45th 16 Re-elected in 1876.
46th
Re-elected in 1881.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
17 47th
48th 17 Re-elected in 1883.

Lost re-election.
49th
VacantMarch 6, 1885 –
March 18, 1885
 
16 George Gray;G000396.jpg
George Gray
Democratic March 18, 1885 –
March 3, 1899
Elected in 1885 to finish Bayard's term.
Re-elected in 1887.18 50th
51st 18Election year unknown.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1895
Republican HigginsAnthony.jpg
Anthony C. Higgins
18
52nd
Re-elected in 1893.

Lost re-election.
19 53rd
54th 19Legislature failed to elect in 1895March 4, 1895 –
January 19, 1897
Vacant
Elected in 1897 to finish vacant term.

Lost re-election.
January 19, 1897 –
March 3, 1901
Democratic KenneyRichardR.jpg
Richard R. Kenney
19
55th
VacantMarch 4, 1899 –
March 1, 1903
Legislature failed to elect 20 56th
57th 20Legislature failed to elect in 1901March 4, 1901 –
March 2, 1903
Vacant
17 BallHeisler.jpg
L. Heisler Ball
Republican March 2, 1903 –
March 3, 1905
Elected in 1903 to finish vacant term. Elected in 1903 to finish vacant term.

Retired.
March 2, 1903 –
March 3, 1907
Republican James Allee.jpg
J. Frank Allee
20
58th
VacantMarch 4, 1905 –
June 12, 1906
Legislature failed to elect.21 59th
18 Henry A Dupont.jpg
Henry A. du Pont
Republican June 13, 1906 –
March 3, 1917
Elected in 1906 to finish vacant term.
60th 21 Elected January 16, 1907. [5]

Retired.
March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1913
Republican RichardsonHarryA.jpg
Harry A. Richardson
21
61st
Re-elected January 25, 1911.

Lost re-election.
22 62nd
63rd 22 Elected January 29, 1913.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1919
Democratic SaulsburyWillardJr2.gif
Willard Saulsbury Jr.
22
64th
19 Josiah Oliver Wolcott.jpg
Josiah O. Wolcott
Democratic March 4, 1917 –
July 2, 1921
Elected in 1916.
Resigned to become Chancellor of Delaware.
23 65th
66th 23 Elected in 1918.

Lost renomination.
March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1925
Republican BallHeisler.jpg
L. Heisler Ball
23
67th
20 Thomas Coleman du Pont 1902.jpg
T. Coleman du Pont
Republican July 7, 1921 –
November 6, 1922
Appointed to finish Wolcott's term.

Lost election to finish Wolcott's term.
21 Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.jpg
Thomas F. Bayard Jr.
Democratic November 7, 1922 –
March 3, 1929
Elected in 1922 to finish Wolcott's term.
Elected in 1922.

Lost re-election.
24 68th
69th 24 Elected in 1924.

Resigned.
March 4, 1925 –
December 8, 1928
Republican Thomas Coleman du Pont 1902.jpg
T. Coleman du Pont
24
70th
 December 8, 1928 –
December 10, 1928
Vacant
Appointed to finish du Pont's term.December 10, 1928 –
January 3, 1937
Republican HastingsDanielO.jpg
Daniel O. Hastings
25
22 John G. Townsend, Jr.jpg
John G. Townsend Jr.
Republican March 4, 1929 –
January 3, 1941
Elected in 1928.25 71st
72nd 25 Elected in 1930.

Lost re-election.
73rd
Re-elected in 1934.

Lost re-election.
26 74th
75th 26 Elected in 1936.

Lost renomination.
January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1943
Democratic HughesJamesH.jpg
James H. Hughes
26
76th
23 Jamestunnell.jpg
James M. Tunnell
Democratic January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1947
Elected in 1940.

Lost re-election.
27 77th
78th 27 Elected in 1942.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1949
Republican C. Douglass Buck.jpg
C. Douglass Buck
27
79th
24 JohnJWilliams.jpg
John J. Williams
Republican January 3, 1947 –
December 31, 1970
Elected in 1946.28 80th
81st 28 Elected in 1948.January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1961
Democratic JAllenFrear.jpg
J. Allen Frear Jr.
28
82nd
Re-elected in 1952.29 83rd
84th 29 Re-elected in 1954.

Lost re-election.
85th
Re-elected in 1958.30 86th
87th 30 Elected in 1960.January 3, 1961 –
January 3, 1973
Republican BoggsCaleb.jpg
J. Caleb Boggs
29
88th
Re-elected in 1964.

Resigned to give his successor preferential seniority.
31 89th
90th 31 Re-elected in 1966.

Lost re-election.
91st
25 Sen. William V. Roth (R-DE).jpg
William Roth
Republican January 1, 1971 –
January 3, 2001
Appointed to finish Williams's term, having been elected to the next term.
Elected in 1970.32 92nd
93rd 32 Elected in 1972.January 3, 1973 –
January 15, 2009
Democratic Joe Biden, official photo.jpg
Joe Biden
30
94th
Re-elected in 1976.33 95th
96th 33 Re-elected in 1978.
97th
Re-elected in 1982.34 98th
99th 34 Re-elected in 1984.
100th
Re-elected in 1988.35 101st
102nd 35 Re-elected in 1990.
103rd
Re-elected in 1994.

Lost re-election.
36 104th
105th 36 Re-elected in 1996.
106th
26 Thomas Carper.jpg
Tom Carper
Democratic January 3, 2001 –
Present
Elected in 2000.37 107th
108th 37 Re-elected in 2002.
109th
Re-elected in 2006.38 110th
111th 38 Re-elected in 2008.

Resigned to become Vice President of the United States.
Appointed to continue Biden's term.

Retired when his successor was elected.
January 15, 2009 [6]
November 15, 2010
Democratic Ted Kaufman, official Senate photo portrait, 2009.jpg
Ted Kaufman
31
Elected in 2010 to finish Biden's term.November 15, 2010 –
Present
Democratic Chris Coons, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Chris Coons
32
112th
Re-elected in 2012.39 113th
114th 39 Re-elected in 2014.
115th
Re-elected in 2018.40 116th
117th 40To be determined in the 2020 election.
118th
To be determined in the 2024 election.41 119th
#SenatorPartyYears in officeElectoral historyT
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Class 1 Class 2

Living former U.S. Senators from Delaware

As of January 2019, there are two living former U.S. Senators from Delaware. The most recent to die was William V. Roth Jr. (served 1971–2001) on December 13, 2003, who is also the most recently serving to die.

SenatorTerm of officeDate of birth (and age)
Joe Biden 1973–2009November 20, 1942 (age 76)
Ted Kaufman 2009–2010March 15, 1939 (age 80)

See also

United States congressional delegations from Delaware

This is a chronological listing, in timeline format, of the United States Congressional Delegations from Delaware to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. U.S Senators are elected by popular vote for a six-year term, beginning January 3. Since 1831, elections in Delaware have been held in the first week of November of the year noted. Before 1914 United States Senators were chosen by the Delaware General Assembly and before 1935 all Congressional terms began March 4.

Elections in Delaware

Delaware has three county boards of election which are charged with the calculation and certification of election results, election dispute resolution, validation of qualified voter rolls and of materials used during elections, such as voting machines. Delaware also has a State Election Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Delaware Senate.

Related Research Articles

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Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 11th Congress were held in the various states between April 1808 and May 1809. The Congress first met on May 22, 1809.

The United States Senate elections of 1804 and 1805 were elections that expanded the Democratic-Republican Party's overwhelming control over the United States Senate. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

The United States Senate elections of 1808 and 1809 were elections that had the Federalist Party gain one seat in the United States Senate, and which coincided with the 1808 presidential election. The Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

The United States Senate elections of 1810 and 1811 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party maintain their majority the United States Senate. The minority Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that they had won all of the elections, they would still not have controlled a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1812 and 1813 were elections that, coinciding with President James Madison's re-election, had the Democratic-Republican Party lose two seats but still retain an overwhelming majority in the United States Senate. As in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that if they had won every one of the elections, they would still not have controlled a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1814 and 1815 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party lose a seat but still retain an overwhelming majority in the United States Senate. Unlike in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with a chance of regaining their long-lost majority had they swept almost all the seats. However, only one seat switched parties. Two seats held by Democratic-Republicans were left unfilled until long after the next Congress began.

The United States Senate elections of 1816 and 1817 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party gain a net of two seats from the admission of a new state, and which coincided with the presidential election.

The United States Senate elections of 1802 and 1803 were elections for the United States Senate which had the Democratic-Republican Party assume an overwhelming control thereof.

The United States Senate elections of 1798 and 1799 were held at the middle of President John Adams's administration and had no net change in political control of the Senate.

The United States Senate elections of 1796 and 1797 were elections for the United States Senate which, coinciding with John Adams's election as President, had the ruling Federalist Party gain one seat.

The United States Senate elections of 1794 and 1795 were elections that had the formation of organized political parties in the United States, with the Federalist Party emerging from the Pro Administration coalition, and the Democratic-Republican Party emerging from the Anti-Administration coalition.

1788 and 1789 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1788 and 1789 were the first elections for the United States Senate, which coincided with the election of President George Washington. As of this election, formal organized political parties had yet to form in the United States, but two political factions were present: The coalition of senators who supported George Washington's administration were known as "Pro-Administration", and the senators against him as "Anti-Administration".

References

  1. "Delaware 1803 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware State Senate, 1803. 13–14.
  2. "Delaware 1809 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). January 14, 1809.
  3. "Delaware 1815 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 25, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1815. 37.
  4. Byrd & Wolff, page 90.
  5. The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1908. New York: The Tribune Association. 1908. p. 258.
  6. "Senators of the United States 1789–present, A chronological list of senators since the First Congress in 1789" (PDF). Senate Historical Office. April 17, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
Robert Byrd U.S. Senator from West Virginia (1959–2010)

Robert Carlyle Byrd was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia for over 51 years, from 1959 until his death in 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Byrd previously served as a U.S. Representative from 1953 until 1959. He is the longest-serving U.S. Senator in history. In addition, he was, at the time of his death, the longest-serving member in the history of the United States Congress, a record later surpassed by Representative John Dingell of Michigan. Byrd was the last remaining member of the U.S. Senate to have served during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, and the last remaining member of Congress to have served during the presidency of Harry S. Truman. Byrd is also the only West Virginian to have served in both chambers of the state legislature and both chambers of Congress.